Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-05-24
MAINE DINPATCHES.
WHERE Is fiEl
rev Faets In tOnnectiOn With the
humford Mystery-One Mans state.
ment Not Believed.

RCMFoRD, May 90
state was given out last Friday to
the effect that Daniel Silver killed his son
David in Rumford l3 years ago in sel.-de.
renee and buried the remains under the barn.
An effort was immed lately made 10 prove or
dlsprove the statement, which was deliberate.
~ made by man named Bixbee in the pres
ence of four or FIVE witnesses. Saturday
evening three men made a search under the
barn and dug till 10 o'clock that night with
no success Bixbee, who was one of the
party, was willing to go, and went directly
to the spot where he thought the bones re-
malned, but it is the writer's opinion that the
dlrt under the barn has never been removed
since the Lord Almighty placed it there.
The barn Is a small structure somewhat di.
lapldated, with convenient place to get
under 1t, especially in the spring where the
hay has always been clear from the bays 1t
would have taken at least four hours for one
to have dug grave there. Plenty of evi
dence exists that he was not gone long
enough from the house that morning to do
that. Bixbee could not vindcate his story in
the least. No rocks were found piled to
gether, that would arouse the least suspicion
whatever. Uncle Daniels daughters and
sons-in-law were just eager to make the
search as any one
This was not the first time that David had
been lost. A few years before this he ran
away and was gone three days and was final
ly found near the middle of Swift river on a
rock above Mexico Corner, by Major Joel
Richardson. The man was nearly starved to
death. The major found out through his
wandering talk where he belonged and re-
turned bin to his home.
Neighbors and friends who have known
Uncle. Daniel tor years, speak of him in the
highest terms, as a kind-hearted faithful
man, and do not believe one word that Blk
bee has stated What became of David Sill
yer probably will always remain a mystery.
Mr.. William Farnham, one of Rumtora's
most reliable citizens, gives the following
account of the last disappearance of David (:
Mr.. Farnham is a near neighbor, and has
for 40 years. His farm overlooks Silver's.
He was husking corn about the 18th of Jan
uary, II years ago, He says he saw Uncle
Daniel at 8 o'clock in the morning on the
ridge near his house, hallooing for David.
He continued to haloo all that day till in the
evening. The neighbors were instructed to
keep lookout for him. The third day from
so to IS persons joined IN the aearch, scour-
ing White Cap and Black Mountain. Mr..
Farnham spent five days searching, but with
no success whatever. The relatives contin-
ued the search through the summer.
Mrs. NJ. T. Farrar, Uncle David's daugh-
ter. relates that during that summer she and
her father were up in the back pasture, when
suddenly they came near something that
smelled very badly. They advanced and the
stencil increased. Finally, becoming fright
ened, they returned home. She expressed
Willingness to go there and become satisfied
So yesterday party was made up and searct
was made. The trees and everything had sc
changed in II years that she could not locate
the spot, so nothing resulted from the search